Thug and Idol: 10X Rewards Second Identity System

'I guess it won't be too hard to make sure judges just love me more than Angelo,' Tristan thought. 'But he's unusual, exotic—the public loves this, and judges love high TV ratings.'

Maybe it would've worked out, maybe it wouldn't have. Either way, Tristan felt humbled.

Even with his system, there were people who could compete with him, and people who were just better. And without the system, Trystan would be rotting in prison right now.

A moment later, he sat straighter and clenched his jaw.

'So what?! I'm not going to give up on my goals, just because I met an obstacle I didn't expect! If I want a smooth start in the industry and a lot of CP to help me later, I have to win this contest, so I will do it! Honest methods or by foul, what does it matter?'

When Angelo returned to the waiting room, just as emotionless as when he left, Tristan's determination was even brighter than before. He prepared to show not just his 100%, but his 200%!

By honest methods or by foul.

Ignoring everyone, Angelo walked all the way to his previous seat on a couch opposite of Tristan and spaced out again.

"Hey, Omen," Tristan spoke up. "Why didn't you play like that from the start?"

Angelo blinked and looked at Tristan. After a pause, he pulled the headphones down.

"Please, repeat. I didn't hear your words just now."

Angelo was close enough that when Tristan focused, he could've heard music from Angelo's headphones—except there weren't any.

'Huh? He wears headphones without music? Really, what a weird man! But a genius… Is he really one of these people who are born extremely good at something, but are terrible at everything else?'

"I asked, why didn't you play like just now from the start, Omen? At the first round of the competition? You would've earned much more popularity… I didn't hear about you at all outside of the contest."

"That's because I wasn't interested in participating in this contest until recently, Mr. Gemello. Then I was convinced that it will be worth my time to actually win it. I think, if I knew from the start that there would be musicians like you in the finale, I'd have tried harder from the first round. Do you play any other instruments besides the guitar?"

Tristan blinked at the speech. Angelo still spoke extremely emotionlessly, and it made Tristan doubt if he was being subtly snubbed or if Angelo's words were genuine.

In the background, the last few contestants were performing one by one on the screen in the waiting room, and Tristan saw they weren't good enough to be his competition. Here, only Angelo was.

"I play a bit of piano. So what do you want to win for? You obviously don't care about fame, so money?"

Angelo's eyes brightened the slightest bit.

"I want more money, yes. My parents explained to me that if I win this contest and release songs I wrote for myself, I could earn a lot of it. Are you as good with piano as with guitar, Mr. Gemello?"

Gears shifted in Tristan's head. This was a perfect opportunity to cheat—and what was more cheating when he already cheated with his system?

He glanced around.

Discover stories with mvl

Other contestants were throwing curious looks at the two of them, and several of them were definitely listening to every word.

With subtle, deft motions, Tristan pulled out his phone and quickly typed a brief message. When he felt that nobody was watching his hands, he leaned closer to Angelo and showed the message to him.

[I have an offer for you that can give you more money than this contest. To know more, a couple minutes after I leave, ask to go to the bathroom.]

"With piano I'm just decent. Anyway, let's chat later."

The contestants were forced to wait inside the room and not go anywhere on their own (so they won't get lost in a massive building), but there was an attendant to show them a way to an empty public bathroom with squeaky clean white tile and huge mirrors.

When Tristan got there, he waited patiently.

He didn't fear that Angelo would snitch on him, because Angelo had no proof yet.

Two minutes later, Angelo walked inside, too.

"Is this a secret meeting?" he asked robotically. "Do you want to bribe me, Mr. Gemello?"

Tristan smirked.

"So you aren't stupid. But yes, that's what I want. I can pay you more than $15000, and you can still release your songs. Hell, I can even help you promote them. If they are anything like the last one, they are worth promoting."

His demeanor was charming and his voice was like liquid honey pouring into Angelo's ears–but there wasn't a sign that Angelo was affected by it at all.

Tristan didn't even know if it were his persuasion abilities failing, or just his observation skills. He was working almost blind here!

"But this would be illegal, and cheating. Those are wrong things."

Tristan narrowed his eyes.

"Is that what you truly believe, Angelo Omen? That law defines what's right and what's wrong? Then how does it happen that rich people can be let off with a fine for major crimes, while others are often put into prison despite being entirely innocent?"

Angelo thought for a long moment.

"Please, speak more directly, Mr. Gemello. Did you mean to say that the justice system is flawed, or that it's money that decides what's right or what's wrong?"

"The first one!" Tristan snorted. "Money just decides who can do whatever they want, and who can't."

'This man is so blank—I still can't tell what he thinks! I have no idea what he wants, either! Besides money, of course. But I know what he DOESN'T want!'

"Omen, think about this—you said you don't like competing here. You don't enjoy being in the spotlight at all, right? If you are only here for the money, then just take mine and leave without all the bother."

Angelo thought for even longer than the previous time, before finally giving an answer.